It was a big adjustment moving from midget to the MJ, there are bigger guys, faster guys and older guys. The league has a lot more skill
MANITOBA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
It was a big adjustment moving from midget to the MJ, there are bigger guys, faster guys and older guys. The league has a lot more skill
“ They just wanted to make sure he’ ll play in the Western League before they committed fully to him. They’ ve been out to see him play a few times this year so they have some interest in him. I know they’ d like him to play in a few games this year.“ As far as I’ m concerned, a 16-year-old kid should make his decision when he’ s 17,” Hedley added with a chuckle.“ As many doors as he can keep open, the better. P. A. could be a great route for him, but so could college. The fact that he signed with P. A. suggests that he knows what he wants.” Hedley certainly believes Nachbaur will be a successful player. In fact, the Blizzard head coach has been more than impressed with his performance as a 16-year-old in the MJHL. After the first 35 games, the rookie had eight goals and 18 points and had become a trusted player.“ Justin’ s a good kid,” Hedley with a smile.“ He’ s from Cross Lake so he’ s kind of local for us. He’ s a 6-foot-2, 195 pound 16-yearold, and while he was drafted by P. A., he’ s getting some interest from Division 1 colleges right now. He has a chance to be successful no matter where he goes.“ He’ s a kid I trust. I’ ll put him in any situation – penalty kill, power play. In front of the net, he wins a lot of stick battles and he’ s really responsible defensively. He learns and he wants to learn. He’ s a really coachable kid.”“ He’ s physical, he uses his body very well and he controls the puck down low. He’ s very good on the wall, a big leftwinger that knows how to win stick battles to get the puck out. I can use him in any situation, even in the last 30 seconds of the game I’ m comfortable using use him as a big guy on the left side to make sure pucks get out. So he’ s very responsible.” Nachbaur was born in Winnipeg but grew up in Cross Lake. He started playing at age five on the outdoor rinks and played all his minor hockey in the North.“ Yeah, I started on the outdoor rinks in Cross Lake,” he said with a laugh.“ I kept playing all my minor hockey in Cross Lake and then I moved to the city to play for the Winnipeg Warriors.“ I came down by myself and lived with my Auntie. At the start it was hard. Obviously the hockey was a lot different. There was a lot more puck movement. In Cross Lake, I just took the puck and went to the net. When I got here to play with the Warriors, it was a lot more about team. That was good for me.“ In my bantam year, OCN was looking at me before my season even started so I’ ve been trying hard to get to OCN and I’ m happy that I’ m here. By his own admission, jumping from Triple A Midget to the MJHL was a big step, but he’ s starting to adapt to a faster game against
bigger, older players.“ It was a big adjustment moving from midget to the MJ,” he said frankly.“ There are bigger guys, faster guys and older guys. The league has a lot more skill. Playing against men out there is really tough some nights and I’ ve had to adjust and it’ s been a big adjustment, but I’ m getting used to the speed and I’ m comfortable out there now. I like it. He’ s now in Grade 11 at Margaret Barbour
Collegiate in
The Pas and he admits that because NCAA Division 1 schools have become interested in him, he’ s going to have to work harder on his marks. Colgate University in Hamilton, N. Y., a Division 1 school that just brought in former Steinbach Pistons star Tyler Penner this season, talked with Coach Hedley after the final game of the MJHL Showcase back in December. However, Nachbaur decided on the Western Hockey League.“ I was thinking about one of the two – school or the Dub,” he said.“ I talked to my parents about it and I weighed my pros and cons and the Dub was a better choice for me. Right now, though, I’ m really not looking past this season. I’ m just trying to help the Blizzard win.” n
78 GAME ON 2016- 17 ROSTER DEADLINE EDITION